A recent fact-finding mission by the Institute of Social Accountability (TISA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has revealed that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Vihiga County are still not fully engaged in key public processes.
These include public participation forums, agricultural programmes, and extension services.
According to the report from the mission, the limited involvement has hindered PWDs from benefiting fully from county and national initiatives.
Stakeholders are now calling for enhanced disability-inclusive governance to ensure that PWDs have meaningful opportunities to contribute to decision-making and access government services.
Speaking during an engagement forum held at Sosa Cottages, TISA Programmes Officer Sheila Lyona said the meeting was convened to address longstanding gaps that continued to leave PWDs out of major decision-making platforms.
Lyona emphasised that meaningful inclusion of PWDs is essential, noting that proper data collection on their needs and numbers remains a major challenge.
She called for the prioritisation of accurate data to guide planning and resource allocation, adding that poor logistical planning continued to hinder access to public forums for many PWDs, further reducing their participation.
According to TISA, PWD representation in the county workforce remains extremely low, with only four PWDs employed out of approximately 3,800 county workers.
Lyona also noted that PWDs receive only about five per cent inclusion in key sectors, despite occupying nearly 30 per cent of spaces in local markets.
She urged the county to allocate dedicated office space for PWD affairs to improve coordination, communication and service delivery, saying such a step would significantly strengthen disability-responsive governance.
PWDs have been encouraged to actively monitor upcoming programmes and express interest through the Department of Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services, as well as relevant national government offices.
This approach aims to improve awareness, engagement and accountability in service delivery.
Vihiga County is currently implementing the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, which seeks to promote equal access to education, employment and public services.
A dedicated board has also been established to safeguard the rights and welfare of PWDs.
Ongoing support from the county includes the distribution of assistive devices such as hearing aids, white canes and wheelchairs.
Plans are underway to map all PWDs across the county to strengthen service delivery, with preparations also being made to begin printing key documents in braille—an important step towards improving accessibility and inclusion.
By Rose Wasike
